In school, we used to have a little workbook called “word-ly wise”. Here’s a little word wisdom, i’ve been considering..

Letting words form first…this, from someone who talks constantly, even in their sleep (ask my wife)…words requires time in the womb of the heart in order to be birthed well-that is from the deeper well. Holding things in our hearts, let’s the birth come at the right time.

Don’t speak, until you have something to say, my mentor used to say. Simple good advice, which I’m still trying to practice.

Let the words form in your heart before they roll out of your mouth, into the world. It’s ok to say, i don’t have that fully formed yet, i’ll get back to you when i do. It will be a bigger blessings then for us both, and more simple and articulate.

Not an easy practice in a very now oriented, and at time, word poor world. The pressure to pronounce things before they are fully formed is dangerous, but also ubiquitous in our days. “Let silence, find her words.” as one monk put it.

The cuff is never a good place to speak from. The heart is better. Get centered in Love and then speak. Be the voice of Love, as Henri Nouwen would put it.